It’s been over a month since Kansas fired athletic director Sheahon Zenger and it appears as though the school will not have a replacement from the top of their shortlist to replace him.
Per USA Today’s Dan Wolken, SMU athletic director Rick Hart had been somebody the Jayhawks were set on pursuing to fill the open position but he will instead remain on the Hilltop leading the Mustangs.
Sources: Rick Hart, who had been the initial focus of the Kansas AD search, is staying put at SMU. Kansas moving on to other options, expected to interview more candidates this week.
— Dan Wolken (@DanWolken) June 28, 2018
Hart is going into his sixth year leading SMU and has been lauded for in bringing in Chad Morris to resurrect the Mustangs football program and then hiring Sonny Dykes this offseason to replace him.
Former Arkansas AD Jeff Long and Arkansas State AD Terry Mohajir have also been mentioned in connection with the search, while UCF AD Danny White denied he had a meeting with the school after a report surfaced he had a meeting with Kansas officials. Whoever is hired will have to sort out a $300 million stadium renovation in Lawrence and the future of the football program with regards to head coach David Beaty.
Unfortunately, I am compelled to comment on another institution’s search. Disappointed that @SBNation stated that I met with another school about their AD position. This couldn’t be farther from the truth. There’s no reason for me to do that. UCF is the best AD job in America!
— Danny White (@AD_DannyWhite) June 29, 2018